Kokanee Creek Provincial Park benefits three times over from provincial payout
By Nelson Daily Staff
The West Kootenay EcoSociety wasn’t the only community group in the West Kootenay to benefit from a recent payout from the Community Legacy Fund.
Last week the city’s premiere environmental group was awarded $19,000 for upgrades and informational displays in the Kokanee Creek Provincial Park visitor centre.
This week it was learned the Canadian Avalanche Centre — based in Revelstoke — was awarded $19,000 for avalanche terrain exposure ratings in Kokanee Creek Provincial Park, Stagleap Provincial Park and the West Arm Provincial Park near Nelson.
As well, Nelson-based Central Kootenay Invasive Plant Council was given $10,000 to help stop the spread of invasive plants in Kokanee Creek Provincial Park.
BC Parks is providing $450,000 to community groups through the Community Legacy Fund to support improvements to 27 parks across the province.
To be eligible for funding, community groups were required to contribute to the project either with financial or in-kind contributions.
Groups receiving funding through the program are contributing a total of nearly $470,000 in cash and in-kind support for a total project value of nearly $920,000.
The Community Legacy Program provides up to $20,000 per project for work such as trail enhancements, improvements that support recreational activities or conservation of the park’s ecology or cultural history.
In May, community groups around B.C. with connections to their local parks were invited to apply for funding through the program, established as part of BC Parks centennial celebrations.
Special events are being held in parks across the province, all year long, as BC Parks honours 100 years of conservation and recreation.
The Community Legacy Fund was administered by the BC Conservation Foundation on behalf of BC Parks.
Adjudicators evaluated whether applicants had a clear plan for making the improvement to the park this year, whether they were able to provide in-kind or cash contributions, whether they had an established partnership with the park, and finally whether the proposed improvement was consistent with the park management plan.
Adjudicators also ensured each region of B.C. was reflected in the successful applicants.
The Alpine Club of Canada was given $19,000 in Elk Lakes Provincial Park for renovating cabins to increase capacity.
The Sovereign Lake Nordic Club took home $15,000 in Silver Star Mountain Provincial Park to upgrade and install signage.
- Find out more about BC Parks 100 celebrations around the province at: www.bcparks.ca.
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